CRIME
Marwa Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s Drug Crisis as Ondo Emerges Focal Point in NDLEA’s Cannabis Control and Alternative Development Strategy
…says 15 Million Nigerians Are On Drugs
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd.), has sounded a grave warning over the scale of illicit drug consumption in Nigeria, disclosing that about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 are currently involved in the intake of illicit drugs.
Describing the figure as unacceptable and deeply troubling, Marwa noted that the number is almost three times higher than the global average, adding that one in every seven Nigerians within the active population consumes drugs. The revelation, he explained, underscores the magnitude of the drug challenge facing the nation and the urgent need for sustained, multi-layered interventions.
The NDLEA boss made the disclosure during a courtesy visit with his management team to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the Governor’s Office in Alagbaka, Akure. He expressed particular concern about Ondo State’s position as the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria, attributing this to favourable climate and soil conditions that support large-scale cultivation.
Presenting data on drug use prevalence, enforcement outcomes and cannabis production across the country, with specific emphasis on Ondo State, Marwa referenced the 2018 United Nations drug use survey, which places drug use prevalence in the state at 17 per cent equivalent to roughly 400,000 users.
He compared the Ondo figures with 33 per cent prevalence in Lagos State, translating to about two million users, and 24 per cent in Oyo State, stressing that the implications of widespread drug abuse extend far beyond personal health.
“The drug use has had devastating consequences on our families and our communities. It has also promoted criminality, as we know.
“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers. In fact, the kidnappers now, through intelligence, our intelligence sources have been shown to live among the cannabis-cultivating communities in the deep forests. And that makes sense to them. Why not establish a base where the drugs are readily available?
“Last year, 2025, the NDLEA in Ondo State Command made 336 arrests. They seized 22,316 kilograms of illicit substances. They convicted 62 and seized and destroyed 207,000 kilograms worth of cannabis in the plantations and farms. We have a counselling and rehab centre here. We treated 243.
“But of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances that NDLEA seized in the last five years, over 75 per cent is cannabis. That’s our greatest challenge in the consumption of drugs in Nigeria. That was 70 to 75 per cent of those who use drugs actually use cannabis,” Marwa stated.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA Chairman revealed that the agency has commissioned the Nigerian Academy of Science to carry out a scientific study on cannabis-extracted oil for medicinal purposes, emphasising that any decision regarding controlled cultivation and export would be firmly anchored on credible scientific evidence.
He further explained that NDLEA has established an Alternative Development Unit at its headquarters as a complementary strategy to law enforcement, aimed at engaging cannabis-growing communities and encouraging them to abandon illicit cultivation in favour of legal, profitable crops.
“The strategy involves community development, provision of farm inputs, infrastructure, schools, clinics and access to markets to ensure sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
Marwa disclosed that Ondo State has been selected for a pilot phase of the Alternative Development Programme following over a year of engagements with cannabis-producing communities. He also commended the Ondo State Government for its support, including the establishment of a State Drug Control Committee, plans to replicate the structure at the local government level, and the provision of financial and operational backing for the NDLEA command in the state.
In his response, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pledged the full support of his administration to the NDLEA, particularly following the launch of the agency’s Alternative Development Programme in the state. He praised Marwa for personally leading the initiative instead of delegating it, describing the gesture as a clear demonstration of commitment to the fight against illicit drug cultivation, production, trafficking and consumption.
The governor noted that while Ondo State is a major producer of cannabis, it is also a leading producer of legitimate agricultural commodities such as cocoa, owing to its vast forest resources, fertile soil and favourable climate. He maintained that the majority of Ondo residents are law-abiding citizens, even though a segment still engages in illicit cultivation.
Aiyedatiwa also advocated controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes, citing global best practices and recent approvals in other countries. He observed that cannabis oil is among the most expensive oils traded worldwide and expressed interest in harnessing its medicinal value for economic and health benefits.
He therefore urged the NDLEA to expedite ongoing scientific studies and make the findings available to the state, as Ondo positions itself to play a responsible and regulated role in any future medicinal cannabis framework.